A SEVENTH man has been arrested by detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of Walsall teenager Ben Morutare.

The 18-year-old, from Ladywood, handed himself in at Bloxwich police station, in Wolverhampton, on Friday after travelling from London, in connection with the death of the 16 year-old, on July 28.

He has been bailed until a date in September pending further enquiries.

Ben died after a single stab wound to the leg outside the Smethwick Home Guard and Old Comrades Club, at around 1.30am.

He had attended a friend’s 18th birthday party at the venue.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Hazel, who is leading the murder inquiry, stressed that the investigation is still on-going and has urged more witnesses, or anyone with information, to contact his CID team.

He said: “We’ve spoken to a number of people who were at a party at the club on the night but we believe there are many more who may have seen something and have not yet been in touch.

“People may have taken pictures during the night, or recorded the fight which broke out outside on their mobile phones and we now ask them to do the right thing and contact us to pass this on.

“Any information, or footage, could prove vital in helping us bring the people responsible for Ben’s death to justice.”

A 19-year-old from Dudley, an 18-year-old from West Bromwich, three Birmingham youths aged 18, 18 and 17, and an 18-year-old of no fixed address have also been arrested. All seven have been bailed until a date in September pending further enquiries.

All seven are subject to strict bail conditions including an overnight, electronically-tagged curfew, between 9pm-8am, at specified addresses and daily reporting to police stations.

A 16-year-old girl, who lives in Warley and had been at the party, said Ben who died had tried to rescue his friend who she claimed had also been attacked, which sparked a brawl.

As she laid a floral tribute on the pavement, she described the boy as “caring” and said she had known him simply as Ben.

The girl said that he had just left school and was believed to be studying at Alumwell Business and Enterprise College, in Walsall.

It also emerged that police had attended the club 45 minutes before Ben was discovered. He was pronounced dead at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.